Not for murder? The story says the judge ruled him guilty of murder 2 and obstruction.

Oh hrm. I don't know. Who can say.

U.S. District Judge David Norton ruled that Michael Slager, 36, committed second-degree murder and obstruction of justice, in addition to a federal civil rights charge, and set sentencing guidelines of 19 to 24 years in prison.

But also...

In May, Slager pleaded guilty to Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law, a federal civil rights charge, in exchange for dropping the two other federal charges and the original state murder charges he was facing

Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law is apparently an extremely serious charge, and is potentially a capital crime. So if he was only charged for that, that would be sufficient to explain the punishment.

Under White of Law Matters Too!

This is probably going to be confusing for the Scottish commenters.

They're only blue and white at sporting events, Mobes. It washes off.

"Under color of law" is an interesting expression. "Under cover of law" would be the way I think I would phrase it in normal discourse.

8: I don't think that's right, but I admit it's a colorable claim.

OP.last is so fucking cheerful.

And, indeed, some pig just got acquitted for shooting a guy in a hotel hallway, and I swear I have no recollection of anything about that incident.

10.2: I think what made that one get traction in the news is that they released the video after the verdict.

Also, didn't he have something horribly violent written on his gun?

What kills me is that in all these "self defense" claims a regular person would also be legally justified in shooting.

12: Sure, it said YOU'RE FUCKED but that's inadmissible!

That could mean anything. If it weren't written on a gun.

11: Ah, I was wondering why nothing about it seemed familiar. That makes perfect sense.

this is the video of the cop shooting the guy in the hallway.
https://mobile.twitter.com/ShaunKing/status/939014159726870530
Is that anything like normal police procedure? It was like some horrific simon-says yoga game, like in a dystopian movie. "Cross your left leg over your right thigh or I'll blow you away!!!"

I've been thinking about this (the hallway shooting) because it was just so bad. I wonder if the jury wasn't trying to discredit Black Lives Matter by showing that 'see, white people can get murdered without the police facing consequences'.

I also note with unease that the officer moved to Philadelphia.